Watermelon growers in the Katherine region have been dealt a further blow after the Northern Territory government announced on Thursday that it was no longer feasible to eradicate cucumber green mottle mosaic virus. After an initial outbreak of the disease in 2014, Primary Industry and Fisheries Minister Willem Westra van Holthe said on March 26 that the federal Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests had waved the white flag on eradicating CGMMV in the Territory. “Over recent weeks, we have seen the number of properties affected by CGMMV jump from 10 to 21,” he said. “The [CCEPP] have determined that it’s no longer technically feasible to eradicate it from the NT. “That necessitates us moving from an eradication model to a management model.” In total, 16 properties in the Katherine region have tested positive for CGMMV. At most of the new sites, the virus has been detected on several weed species, not cucurbit crops. The news comes just two weeks after the government announced a two-year interest subsidy scheme worth $1.2 million to assist affected growers. The Australian Melon Association is not a signatory to the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, meaning Territory growers hit hard by the CGMMV outbreak are not eligible for financial assistance. One affected Katherine grower, who asked not to be named, told the Katherine Times they were “close to walking away from it all” after the latest blow. “What else can really go wrong?” they asked. “There’s a lot of anger around with the whole deed thing, but now they’re saying that they don’t think it’s possible to get rid of the disease." Mr Westra van Holthe said he did not believe the March 26 announcement was “doomsday stuff” for the Territory’s $60m watermelon industry, but admitted little could be done until the management plan was created. “I still see a bright future for the industry - this is not doomsday stuff,” he said. “I really have to wait for the management plan to be written before I can give any substantive comment on how this will pan out into the future. “This is a change to the status of the disease and may not have any major adverse impact on the industry going forward, certainly not any more than under an eradication program."

Watermelon growers in the Katherine region have been dealt a further blow after the Northern Territory government announced on Thursday that it was no longer feasible to eradicate cucumber green mottle mosaic virus.

After an initial outbreak of the disease in 2014, Primary Industry and Fisheries Minister Willem Westra van Holthe said on March 26 that the federal Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests had waved the white flag on eradicating CGMMV in the Territory.

“Over recent weeks, we have seen the number of properties affected by CGMMV jump from 10 to 21,” he said.

“The [CCEPP] have determined that it’s no longer technically feasible to eradicate it from the NT.

“That necessitates us moving from an eradication model to a management model.”

In total, 16 properties in the Katherine region have tested positive for CGMMV.

At most of the new sites, the virus has been detected on several weed species, not cucurbit crops.

The Australian Melon Association is not a signatory to the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, meaning Territory growers hit hard by the CGMMV outbreak are not eligible for financial assistance.

One affected Katherine grower, who asked not to be named, told the Katherine Times they were “close to walking away from it all” after the latest blow.

“What else can really go wrong?” they asked.

“There’s a lot of anger around with the whole deed thing, but now they’re saying that they don’t think it’s possible to get rid of the disease."

Mr Westra van Holthe said he did not believe the March 26 announcement was “doomsday stuff” for the Territory’s $60m watermelon industry, but admitted little could be done until the management plan was created.

“I still see a bright future for the industry - this is not doomsday stuff,” he said.

“I really have to wait for the management plan to be written before I can give any substantive comment on how this will pan out into the future.

“This is a change to the status of the disease and may not have any major adverse impact on the industry going forward, certainly not any more than under an eradication program."